Mark Begich

It may not be a perfect law, but it certainly has had some substantial success.

This hearing marks the second in a series of hearings we are holding on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act...provides the architectural framework for the conservation and management of our Nation's fisheries.

I think it's getting better.

I support legislation recently introduced by Congressman Rob Wittman (VA)--H.R. 3063--called the Healthy Fisheries Through Better Science Act.

This is one area that's of strong interest to me because it affects commercial, but it affects recreational significantly...

It's important to understand the fish, but it's also to understand the connection on shore.

Our challenge today is how to properly balance the need for responsible stewardship of our fisheries for future generations with the needs of individuals, businesses, and communities who rely on them.

This President has done a lot for Indian Country, more than most have done in years

I was busy on an Alaska issue, an issue that I know you are familiar with and others, Pebble Mine.

These are not discretionary, they are mandatory. They are treaties. They are contracts.

Let me add to that, and then we will close this hearing, and that is, we have a piece of legislation, as you know, that is pending...

And as I move to Mr. Porcari, can I ask you, some of those ideas at some point legislatively or regulatory, can you share those with the Committee at some point?

New York City cannot do all of this recovery alone.

Your honesty and your forthrightness is greatly appreciated.

One of the goals of this Subcommittee and another Subcommittee that I chair is one of the roles the Senate should do more of is oversight like this.

I look forward to working hand in hand with State and local officials, my fellow Senators, and members of the Administration to make this recovery period as short, efficient, and successful as possible.

But do you need a legislative requirement? Why don't you just do it?

So you are the last bucket.

It seems like an easy fix to us to do what the Federal procurement database already does.

There is still much that needs to be done to educate veterans and their families regarding the benefits and services they have earned in service to the Nation.

S. 1558 would require the DVA to extend outreach services to veterans via cooperative awareness programs with various Federal and state agencies.

Because it cuts the cost of emergency care.

We have to equalize these systems.

This bill will just codify that, make sure that is the law, that you cannot pay a per diem to a facility that is not meeting safety standards.